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Adamas Schuhe by Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi

Adamas Schuhe by Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award in Eisen in Schuhdesign Competition Category.


EisenSchuhwerk· 2022

Adamas Schuhe

by Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi

A' Design Award in Eisen Winner in Schuhwerk Category

Colors

The Design

About Adamas Schuhe

Adamas ist ein schnürsenkelloser Schuh, der für das tägliche Tragen in der Stadt entworfen wurde. Die Sohle weist scharfkantige, facettierte Flächen auf, die von ungeschliffenen Diamanten inspiriert sind, während das weiche, elastische Obermaterial den Fuß eng umschließt. Die Hauptmaterialien sind Synthesekautschuk und elastisches Gewebe. Mithilfe von Computeranalysen wurden die Struktur und die erforderliche Materialmenge für jeden Teil der Sohle bestimmt. Die Sohle wird in einem Stück gefertigt, was eine schnelle Produktion, stabile Fußbetten und weniger Materialabfall ermöglicht. Eine Stützstruktur erstreckt sich von der Sohle bis zum Knöchel und fixiert das Obermaterial.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Eisen

Adamas Schuhe ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Eisen, einer prestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für gute Designs, die die beruflichen und industriellen Anforderungen erfüllen, die an gut gestaltete Schöpfungen gestellt werden. Eisen-Gewinner zeigen großes Können, hohe Spezialisierung, fachkundiges Verständnis und die kreative Kapazität ihrer Schöpfer. Von Adamas Schuhe wird erwartet, dass es eine hochgeschätzte, bewunderte und geliebte Schöpfung ist, die praktisch und innovativ ist. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Eisen prämierte Design integriert bewährte Branchenverfahren und weist kompetente technische Merkmale in Verbindung mit Know-how und Talent auf. Adamas Schuhe wird für seine Gründlichkeit geschätzt und ist darauf ausgelegt, Verbesserungen der Lebensqualität zu liefern, die dazu beitragen, die Welt zu einem besseren Ort zu machen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
The accelerating urbanization has put people's lives in a constant state of tension. Adamas' style reflects the state of existence of urbanites in a rapidly developing technological city. The Adamas' diamond-like angular sole represents a seemingly impenetrable system, but the soft upper gives the foot a sense of complete wrapping and security. It encourages people to challenge authority bravely and seek breakthroughs freely.
Dimensions & Packaging
Length 320mm x Width 115mm x Height 150mm
Tags
Lifestyle, Computational, Techwear, Laceless Design, Footwear Design
Production Technology
The primary materials used in the production of this footwear design are synthetic rubber and elastic fabric. In this case, the synthetic rubber was optimized by computerized virtual physical algorithms and tests to derive the structure of each part and its required mass. In addition, connections for one-piece molding exists between all aspects of the sole to help achieve rapid processing and footbed stability. At the same time, the support structure extending from the sole to the ankle also provides sufficient bonding space for the upper to ensure proper curvature and wrapping.
Design Challenge
The biggest challenge of this design was the need to support the upper using a structure that extends from the sole of the shoe. The streamlined material requires more detail in the side wrap structure.
Research
This design aims at innovative research and practice on outsole shape and soft/hard material fit. In the process, we explored the possibility of using computer analysis in shoe design to control the force of materials and improve the wrapping of the upper. At the same time, we also tried to create wrapping strong one-piece outsoles to reduce the waste of manufacturing materials. This design further explores the prospect of high contrast technology style in the future urban lifestyle shoe field in terms of style.
Inspiration
The inspiration of Adamas comes from unpolished diamonds. The design of the shoes reflects the designer's view on the future status of urbanization. With an elastic upper and sturdy sole, Adamas is the synthesis of organic soul and ruthless technology. It is like a high-capacity creature from the world of cyberpunk, hiding a peaceful mind in the hardened shell, wandering on the edge of high urbanization. The sharp contrast of forms brings sensory stimulation.
Project Duration
The project started in March 2019 in Champaign, IL and finished in June 2019 in Champaign, IL, and was exhibited in Beijing in September 2020 and Los Angeles in April 2021.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, 2021
Team Members
Hengbo Zhang
Wenxi Qi
Image Credits
Image #1: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #2: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #3: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #4: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.
Image #5: Creator Hengbo Zhang and Wenxi Qi, Adamas, 2020.

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